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Verbal Villain or Victim of Censorship?

If the outrage over radio-show host Don Imus' racist and sexist slur is to hold any meaning, it will be in its power to help us reflect upon the freedoms, values and conflicts that compose our collective psyche [April 23]. Sadly, our society too often rewards those who traffic in disrespect. Let Imus encourage us to question all who profit from debasement and remind us of the dignified existence our freedoms were meant to provide.

David Terhune, NEW YORK CITY

I could never understand why anyone would want to listen to Imus even before his "nappy-headed hos" debacle, but I can't help wondering whether his castigation illustrates a double standard. If Chris Rock were to say the same thing, he'd probably get another HBO special. Isn't it time to say that race, gender, sexual orientation and nationality are off limits for cracking jokes?

Russ Bannon

PALMAS DEL MAR, PUERTO RICO

It is unfortunate that many people who heard Imus' coarse comment don't know about the many good works he has championed and the valuable political discourse he led. The Rev. Al Sharpton stated that the firing of the radio icon was not about taking Imus down but lifting decency up. But millions of radio listeners probably suspect that it was more about promoting activists and opportunists. For the friends and fans of Imus and for all who are growing tired of selective outrage and sporadic forgiveness, we have the option of boycotting products and networks to convey our dismay.

Buck Rutledge

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

As a black woman, I am bothered that Imus went too far, that he's been allowed to spew his garbage virtually unchecked for decades, that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Sharpton are hypocrites and that too much hip-hop degrades women. But I am even more disgusted that Imus' defenders try to trivialize his remarks by citing his charity work. Philanthropy is not a license to discriminate or to disrespect me, my race or my gender.

Renee Newbold, NEWPORT NEWS, VA.

I suspect that if Imus had been talking about a men's basketball team, he would not have been so colorful in his comments. Some men seem to have a problem with successful women, even though men still hold most positions of power. I have never understood what thrill there is in degrading another human being or why I should tolerate it. I learned just the opposite in Sunday school.

Ellen Linderman, CARRINGTON, N.D.

Where are the feminists? Why haven't the leaders of the National Organization for Women been front and center protesting the sexism of the Imus remarks? And where have they been all these years as the gangsta rappers have labeled women "hos," enabling that derogatory word to become commonplace? In the good ole days of feminism, Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan would have been as visible and vocal as Jackson and Sharpton have been.

Jean M. Alberti

LOMBARD, ILL.

I'm a 47-year-old black male, and I think Imus was genuinely contrite and apologized more profusely than Jackson and Sharpton have for their missteps. Taking Imus off the air was a huge mistake. This will prove to be a missed opportunity to generate dialogue about subjects that are being discussed only in private. Many problems are devastating the black community, but Imus is not one of them. The time for blaming the white community for minority problems has expired. We must hold ourselves accountable.

Curtis Sims, LAKE STEVENS, WASH.

A white man from an older generation chose the wrong slang to use, and it ended his career. I am not defending what Imus said; I only defend his right to say it. If you don't like what someone has to say, don't listen. Truly offensive speech does not dignify a response.

Daniel J. Graeber, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

Many Imus admirers are asking, whatever happened to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and freedom of expression in this country? Well, we all believe in free speech, but that doesn't give anyone license to insult someone else's ethnicity, religion or gender. I am not a fan of Imus', but I believe he is a decent, compassionate and complex man who was badly in need of a refresher course in tasteful humor.

Isa K. Mushahwar, ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Hasn't Imus always been a racist jerk? The line between satire and insult seems very clear. I think hip-hop music is offensive, so I don't listen to it. I found Imus offensive, so I didn't listen to him. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Sacha Baron Cohen and Sarah Silverman are funny because they point out painful truths in our culture.

Meredith Hodgkinson, AUSTIN, TEXAS

Cox Signs Off

Ana Marie Cox must have been kidding in her piece "No More Imus for Me" [April 23]. Like everyone else who appeared on the Imus program, she knew what the show was about. Everyone was happy to use the program for self-promotion but now want to claim ignorance. Imus was on the air for nearly 30 years. His comments were indefensible, and he apologized. MSNBC and CBS should have shown some courage and said that censorship is unacceptable.

Joseph Buonpastore, WAYNE, N.J.

As a woman working in a male-dominated field, I too have sat at lunch with male colleagues and choked at their strip-club humor and sexist, racist remarks. I commend Cox for not tolerating it any longer. But she shouldn't be so hard on herself about putting up with it before: it's still a man's world. Thankfully, that's starting to change.

Linda Plackowski, MIDLAND, MICH.

The Impudent Candidate

In "President Fuhgeddaboutit" [April 23], Joe Klein concluded that since Americans are tired of distinguishing between Sunnis and Shi'ites and tired of our disastrous involvement overseas, we would opt for a "fuhgeddaboutit" foreign policy. Americans want an end to the Iraq war, while Rudolph Giuliani supports the troop surge. Americans are also concerned about our international standing in the world. I think we would embrace a person who would talk to Arabs and, yes, even distinguish between Sunnis and Shi'ites. After suffering through eight years of the most corrupt, arrogant Administration, the last thing Americans want is a rude, corrupt, belligerent bully like Giuliani in the White House. I, for one, will take pragmatism and diplomacy any day.

Carol Manning, BLUE LAKE, CALIF.